Number plate bracket and filler cap lock



. .FREDERICK ET AL NUMBER PLATE BRACKET AND FILLER CAP LOCK July 9, 1957Filed June 6, 1955 u mi Inventors Char/es Frederick George E Che/aux 1.Attorney United States Patent NUMBER PLATE BRACKET AND FILLER CAP LOCKCharles Frederick and George E. Chaloux,

Arlington, Mass. 9

Application June 6, 1955, Serial No. 513,272

2 Claims. (Cl. 296-1) Recently the gasoline filler cap of many new motorvehicles has been moved from its former position on the rear fender to acentral location beneath the trunk door opening. This positioneliminates the spouting of fuel, which air lock in a long filler tubecaused, and gives more useful space in the trunk. However, the stateregistration number plate of the vehicle must be displayed inapproximately this same central position. As a consequence, the numberplate is now carried on a hinged bracket, which can be swung downwardswhen the tank is to be filled and exposes the filler pipe and cap whichlie directly behind it.

In most of the newer number plate brackets, the lower hinge leaf isfastened to the rear body apron while the upper leaf, which forms theactual support for the number plate, is deeply skirted and is springurged to maintain the number plate in an erect position. When the numberplate is erect, the end of the filler pipe and its cap lie behind theupper hinge leaf and inside of its deep skirt. The hinge springssometimes rust and snap, in which case the number plate falls from itslegal position, and sometimes road shock alone throws the platedownwards.

We have found that, by attaching a plate to the back of the movable leafof such a hinged bracket and shaping the projecting portion of the plateso that a part of it lies against the trunk skirt of the motor vehicleand a further portion projects into the jamb area of its trunk door, notonly is it then impossible for the number plate bracket to fall down butthe device automatically becomes a fuel tank lock, for it is impossibleto gain access to the filler cap and fuel tank whenever the trunk islocked.

In the drawing, which shows our combination in elevation and partialsection, parts of the motor car body have been represented in ageneralized manner. The bracket shown is that used on several currentFord models. It too is intended to be a generalized representation,since various makers styles require certain bracket adaptations.

The line 10 indicates the position of the lower back wall of a motor carbody. Line 11 indicates the trunk door, 12 indicates the door flangealong the bottom margin of the door, and 13 indicates the rear bodyapron of the vehicle. The lower leaf 14 of the hinge bracket 15 is ICCfastened to the body apron 13. The upper leaf 16 is hinged on the hingepin 17 and is urged upwardly by the spring 18. The bracket locking andsupporting member 19 consists of a bent plate having two angularlydisposed arms 21 and 22. Arm 21 is rigidly attached to the upper hingeleaf 16 in any suitable manner, as by spot welding or, for example, bythe carriage bolt 23, which is commonly provided to hold the adjustablenumber plate top brace hook 25. Arm 21 projects forwardly ofthe vehiclea distance which substantially equals the distance between the normalposition of the bracket and the lower back wall of the car body. At thispoint it merges into arm 22, which lies substantially against the carbody. The end of arm 22 may be bent, as at 23', to project into the jamb24 of the car trunk door, but this last, although it makes the bracketlock more rigid, is not necessary. It will be noted that, when thebracket is erect and the trunk door is closed, arm 22 lies between thecar body 10 and the door rim 12. Accordingly, whenever the trunk islocked, it is impossible to lower the bracket 15 and gain access to thefiller cap, which lies behind it; and at all times when the trunk dooris latched, the bracket is held in proper position, since arm 22 isrigidly maintained between the car body and the trunk door rim. Toprotect paint, the arm may be jacketed with neoprene or some othermaterial which is not injured by spilled gasoline.

The simplicity and ready adaptability of our device to varying designsof brackets and car, models has led to its immediate acceptance.

We claim:

1. In combination with a hinged vehicle plate bracket, having at itsupper free end bolt means for securing a number plate brace hookthereto, an angularly bent plate having an intermediate substantiallyhorizontal portion and two oppositely directed arms extending generallyvertical thereto, the downwardly extending arm being perforated forattachment to said bolt means, the upwardly extending arm being adaptedto lie substantially flush against the lower rear wall of the motorvehicle body and to be overlapped by the trunk door of said vehicle whenthe number plate is erect and the door is closed whereby the bracket isrigidly held erect when the trunk door is closed.

2. Locking means as claimed in claim 1 wherein the terminal portion ofthe upwardly extending arm is bent to permit its entry into the doorrecess of the motor vehicle and is also overlapped by said trunk doorwhen the number plate is erect and the door is closed.

MacPherson May 17, 1955 Dickenshied et al Ian. 3,1956

